Sensor for examining a value document, and method for the production of said sensor

Abstract

A sensor for examining a document of value in a detection range of the sensor has at least one electrical component for converting electrical energy into sound waves and/or electromagnetic fields, in particular optical radiation, for examining the document of value and/or for detecting sound waves and/or magnetic or electromagnetic fields, in particular optical radiation, from the document of value to generate detection signals. Additionally, the sensor has a holder for the component, having a recess or a hole for at least partially accommodating the component, in which the electrical component is held, and on or in which at least one conductive path extends to contact with at least one electrical contact of the electrical component.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sensor for examining a document of value in a detection range of the sensor comprising
 at least one ultrasonic converter that converts electrical energy into sound waves useable for examining the document of value and/or detecting sound waves from the document, said ultrasonic converter generating detection signals, and 
 a holder for the ultrasonic converter, having a recess or a hole that accommodates at least partially the ultrasonic converter and in which the ultrasonic converter is held, and on or in which at least one conductive path extends that contacts at least one electrical contact of the ultrasonic converter. 
 
     
     
       2. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the holder is formed in a single-piece. 
     
     
       3. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder is plate-shaped. 
     
     
       4. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive path is arranged on a surface of the holder which faces away from the document of value during an examination, or faces away from an emission or reception surface of the ultrasonic converter. 
     
     
       5. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic converter is oriented using at least one surface section of a wall forming the recess or the hole and/or an orientation structure of the wall in relation to the holder. 
     
     
       6. The sensor according to  claim 5 , wherein the surface section or the orientation structure and the ultrasonic converter are arranged such that a main emission direction or a main reception direction of the ultrasonic converter is inclined in relation to a surface of the holder. 
     
     
       7. The sensor according to  claim 4 , wherein the orientation structure has a shoulder extending around the recess or the hole or a groove on an inside wall of the recess or of the hole. 
     
     
       8. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess or the hole comprises a duct extending through the holder. 
     
     
       9. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess or the hole is symmetrical about an axis that extends in predetermined relationship relative to the holder. 
     
     
       10. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess or the hole is inclined in relation to a surface of the holder. 
     
     
       11. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess or the hole has a bottom that is inclined in relation to a surface of the holder, said ultrasonic converter being disposed on said bottom. 
     
     
       12. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic converter is cast at least partially in the recess or the hole. 
     
     
       13. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein, on a surface of the holder or in the holder, an electrically conductive shielding layer is provided. 
     
     
       14. The sensor according to  claim 1 , including a wire by which the ultrasonic converter contacts the conductive path. 
     
     
       15. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the holder has a plug-in contact or clip-on contact electrically connected to the conductive path, and the ultrasonic converter has a complementary plug-in contact or clip-on contact plugged into or clipped on the plug-in contact or clip-on contact. 
     
     
       16. The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic converter comprises an SMD and is directly electrically connected with the conductive path. 
     
     
       17. The sensor according to  claim 1 , including a further ultrasonic converter that converts electrical energy into sound waves useable for examining the document of value and/or for detecting sound waves from the document of value, said further ultrasonic converter generating detection signals, wherein the holder has at least one further recess or one further hole in which the further ultrasonic converter is arranged at least partially, as well as a further conductive path that contacts at least one electrical contact of the further ultrasonic converter. 
     
     
       18. The sensor according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic converter is configured as an emitter with a direction-dependent emission characteristic, and the further ultrasonic converter is configured as a receiver with a direction-dependent receiving characteristic, said ultrasonic converters being held relative to each other in such a fashion that upon examining a document of value the receiver will receive at least approximately the highest intensity. 
     
     
       19. The sensor according to  claim 1 , including an electrical control circuit controlling the ultrasonic converter or for processing signals of the ultrasonic converter, said control circuit located on the holder and connected to the conductive path. 
     
     
       20. A method for mounting an ultrasonic converter converting electrical energy into sound waves for examining a document of value and/or for detecting sound waves from the document of value, and generating detection signals, in a recess or a hole in a holder, comprising insertion of the ultrasonic converter at least partially in the recess or the hole and contacting at least one electrical contact of the ultrasonic converter with a conductive path on or in the holder. 
     
     
       21. The sensor according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one surface section of the wall forming the recess or the hole and/or the orientation structure of the wall is arranged to extend at an angle upwardly towards a surface of the holder towards the ultrasonic converter. 
     
     
       22. The sensor according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one surface section of the wall forming the recess or the hole and/or the orientation structure of the wall is arranged to extend at an angle upwardly towards a surface of the holder towards the ultrasonic converter. 
     
     
       23. The sensor according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one surface section of the inside wall of the recess or of the hole is arranged to extend at an angle upwardly towards a surface of the holder towards the ultrasonic converter.